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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 24, 2021 Page 17 Pilot human study shows novel treatment suppresses mutant ALS gene The Angel Fund for ALS Research provides major funding (W akefield, MA) – A clinical trial funded by The Angel Fund for ALS Research has shown significant progress in suppressing expression of the most commonly mutated ALS gene, C9ORF72 (C9).The C9 gene mutation, a lengthy expansion of a repeated segment of six molecules of DNA, causes both familial ALS and frontotemporal dementia.The results of the human trial, initiated and led by Drs. Robert H. Brown and Jonathan Watts at UMass Chan Medical School, were published in Nature Medicine. This is a major milestone and an exciting breakthrough in the efforts to find a treatment for this neurodegenerative disease, according to Dr. Brown. The study was conducted on one patient after being sanctioned by the FDA.Dr. Brown and the study team hope to expand the study to as many as 10 patients in the coming months with further FDA approval. To silence the C9 gene, the research team developed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that target the two RNA transcripts of the gene that contain the toxic, expanded segment of nucleic acids.When the ASO was delivered into the spinal fluid, the activity of the gene was substantially suppressed in the participant.The suppression was maintained by repeated doses of the ASO, which were well tolerated without safety concerns in this pilot study.According to Dr. Brown, while ASOs against this target region have previously been shown by investigators to attenuate expression of the C9 gene in neurons in cell culture and mouse models, the UMass-led trial was the first to demonstrate this in a human.A trial of a comparable ASO is now also being conducted by Biogen, Inc, in Cambridge; results from that study have not yet been reported. “The Angel Fund for ALS Research has been committed to finding a treatment and a cure for ALS for nearly three decades,” The Angel Fund said. “This is a giant leap forward on the road to such a discovery. We are proud to fund this research and are excited with the promising results of this clinical trial.” Dr. Jonathan Watts commented, “The research team is excited and encouraged by these results and we look forward to expanding our trial to include more individuals with C9 ALS and frontotemporal dementia.We are grateful to The Angel Fund for ALS Research for their funding.” In addition to the lead role taken by Drs. Brown and Watts, key participants included Drs. Helene Tran and Michael Moazami, as well as an extensive clinical trials team.Beyond the major funding from the Angel Fund, support was also provided by the National Institutes of Health and other ALS organizations. Eagles co-op hockey team fights hard in defeat Advocate Staff Report The Eagles co-op hockey team with Everett fought hard in its first two matchups, falling to Nashoba/Greater Lowell last Saturday. The Crimson Tide came out aggressive – ending the first period holding a 3-0 advantage. Strong play from senior defenseman Shamus Royds finished with a game-high 14 checks and one assist. Coming off the bench and showing ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ CITY OF MALDEN – INVITATION FOR BID The City of Malden invites sealed bids in accordance with M.G.L. c.149 from Contractors for: MALDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY ARCHIVE MOBILE SHELVING PROJECT Email purchasing@cityofmalden.org for Contract Documents. Include Company Name, Address, Contact Name, Email and Phone Number after: 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at the Office of the Controller, 215 Pleasant Street 2nd Floor, Malden MA 02148. Following the deadline, all Bids received within the time specified will be publicly opened and read aloud. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. CITY OF MALDEN Office of the Controller December 24, 2021 Leftover safety: extending your holiday meals E njoying terrific food is one of the highlights of the holiday season; however, all good things must come to an end, including the holiday celebrations. But holiday meals often bring leftovers and leftovers can help stretch out your holiday cheer. According to Candace Quigley, a registered dietitian at Mystic Valley Elder Services, it’s important to assess the safety of the foods that are leftover. “If perishable foods, such as meat, poultry, cooked foods, cheese, cut up fruits and vegetables, were out for more than two hours, they should be discarded,” she said. “The last thing your winter season needs is a bellyache – or worse – caused by improperly stored leftovers. And after the holidays, you may find yourself with a particularly full refrigerator.” To keep your food tasty and free of nasty bacteria, follow these food safety tips (adapted from the federal Food Safety and Inspection Service): Keep food out of the danger great energy was junior defenseman Riya Tanizaki and sophomore Jonathan Brandano. The Tide finished the 2nd period with a 4-1 before surrendering five third-period goals to taste defeat. zone: Bacteria grow rapidly between the temperatures of 41 and 140 degrees. After food is safely cooked, hot food must be kept hot at 140 degrees or warmer to prevent bacterial growth. Make sure to refrigerate the food within two hours of cooking food or after it is removed from an appliance keeping it warm. Cool food rapidly: To prevent bacterial growth, it’s important to divide large amounts of hot food into shallow containers so it reaches the safe refrigerator-storage temperature of 41 degrees or below as fast as possible. Cut large items of food into smaller portions to cool. Cut turkey into smaller pieces and refrigerate. Store turkey and stuffing in separate containers. Wrap leftovers well: Cover leftovers, wrap them in airtight packaging or seal them in storage containers. These practices help keep bacteria out, retain moisture and prevent leftovers from picking up odors from other food in the refrigerator. Immediately refrigerate or freeze the wrapped leftovers for rapid cooling. Store leftovers safely: Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days (gravy should be used within one to two days) or frozen for three to four months. Consider marking your leftovers with the date. Reheat leftovers safely: When reheating leftovers, be sure they reach 165 degrees as measured with a food thermometer. Reheat gravy, sauces and soups by bringing them to a rolling boil. When reheating in the microwave, cover and rotate the food for even heating. Arrange food items evenly in a covered microwave-safe glass or ceramic dish with a microwave-safe covering and add some liquid if needed. Be sure to vent the lid or wrap to let the steam escape. The moist heat that is created will help destroy harmful bacteria and will ensure uniform cooking. ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Middlesex Probate and Family Court 10-U Commerce Way Woburn, MA 01801 (781) 865-4000 Docket No. MI21C1173CA In the matter of: Thomas Joseph Prosser CITATION ON PETITION TO CHANGE NAME A Petition to Change Name of Adult has been filed by Thomas Joseph Prosser of Malden, MA requesting that the court enter a Decree changing their name to: Lorelai Anandamayi Soma Dasi Lyons IMPORTANT NOTICE Any person may appear for purposes of objecting to the petition by filing an appearance at: Middlesex Probate and Family Court before 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 01/18/2022. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance if you object to this proceeding. WITNESS, Hon. Maureen H. Monks, First Justice of this Court. Date: December 21, 2021 TARA E. DeCRISTOFARO Register of Probate December 24, 2021

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